THE CAPTURE OF HUSSEIN: THE OCCUPATION

THE CAPTURE OF HUSSEIN: THE OCCUPATION; U.S. Troops Are Expected to Remain in Iraq at Least a 'Couple More Years,' Commander Says

By ROGER COHEN

Published: December 16, 2003

United States and allied troops will have to remain in Iraq for at least ''a couple more years'' to secure the country's stability and protect its borders against attack, the American commander of those forces said in an interview in Baghdad on Saturday.

Speaking hours before the capture later that day of Saddam Hussein, the commander, Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez, said the United States was ''moving very aggressively to try to hand over responsibility to Iraqi security forces and build their capacity in some key areas.'' But this transfer would take ''awhile,'' and not be completed by the time Iraq is scheduled to regain its sovereignty, on June 30, 2004.

The general, appearing relaxed and declaring himself ''absolutely optimistic'' even before Mr. Hussein was found, said any realistic look at the current state of the Iraqi security forces -- essentially an emergent army, police and civil defense corps -- led to the conclusion that ''at least a couple more years of involvement of coalition forces'' would be needed.

Col. William Darley, a spokesman for General Sanchez, said yesterday that the capture of Mr. Hussein had changed nothing in the general's assessment, the first mention from the American commander in Iraq of a minimum two-year time frame for the allied deployment. ''We will still be needed to help the Iraqi forces,'' Colonel Darley said.

General Sanchez portrayed the task confronting the United States as involving not only the equipping and training of an Iraqi Army and police force but also their education in ''our philosophy.''

The chief tenets to be absorbed by the Iraqis include acceptance of civilian control of the military and the establishment of a police force ''in support of the people, not in support of the regime,'' he said, noting that such shifts in attitude take time.

If the current plan to transfer sovereignty to an Iraqi government in mid-2004 remains in force, General Sanchez's comments suggest that American forces will have to work with the new government, whatever its final form, for at least the ensuing 18 months, until the end of 2005.

The terms of that cooperation have yet to be agreed upon. An accord on how allied forces will continue to operate in the country after an Iraqi government takes office is to be negotiated during the next several months.

General Sanchez, speaking in his office in Mr. Hussein's former Republican Palace in the heart of Baghdad, said it was essential that the envisaged agreement between the American-led coalition and Iraqi authorities on the status of forces allows American troops to meet their commitment to support the Iraqi Army and police over time.

After the overthrow of Saddam Hussein's government in April, the Iraqi Army was disbanded while the police force largely disintegrated. Both are now being reconstituted, although dissatisfaction over pay -- about $60 a month for a private -- has led to desertions from the embryonic army.

General Sanchez said he was ''very happy'' with the current level of allied forces in Iraq -- 120,000 Americans and 15,000 troops from other countries -- and suggested that it might be feasible to begin to reduce that presence in the second half of next year as the Iraqi Army, civil defense corps and police emerge.

He outlined, without going into detail, a plan under which control of cities and certain regions would be gradually ceded to Iraqis in 2004. As this process unfolded, he suggested, ''A year from now it could be feasible that we look at our postures.'' He was referring to possible reductions in allied troop levels in Iraq.

As American military units rotate next year, General Sanchez expects the forces at his command to become ''lighter'' and more mobile, with more infantry and fewer heavy combat units. No further troop contributions from other countries, other than perhaps a small contingent from Japan, are expected.

By the spring, he said, 36 battalions of the Iraqi civil defense corps would be formed. By September, there would be three Iraqi Army divisions. ''We will begin to draw ourselves down as the Iraqis take over responsibility,'' he said.

Asked to define what would constitute success in the American military mission, General Sanchez said, ''I think success for us is when there is an Iraqi political system able to function in a democratic environment, and some semblance of a security structure able to maintain law and order,'' as well as guarantee Iraq's sovereignty.

General Sanchez said much of his troops' efforts were focused on securing what he called the consent of the Iraqi people. ''The majority must remain at least neutral,'' he observed. In general, he said he believed that Americans were doing ''a good job of minimizing the alienation'' among Iraq's 25 million people.

For example, when a United States military operation results in civilian casualties or damaged property, civil affairs units move in quickly to ''look at those wronged,'' he said. Payments, often of $2,000 to $2,500 dollars, are then made to those who suffered, the general said.

When the subject of American dead and wounded arose, General Sanchez appeared pensive, revealing that it was hard for him to look, every day, at the casualty figures for his soldiers.

''Sometimes I feel the weight of the world on my shoulders,'' he said. ''I pray every day that I get the wisdom and knowledge to make the right decisions,'' in a mission he described as central to America's future security.

''There is a tremendous burden here on young Americans,'' he said. ''They go out into a 360-degree battlefield. I want to complete this task at the least possible cost to America's sons and daughters.''

Photo: Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez, commander of allied forces in Iraq, says the United States is ''moving aggressively'' to hand over authority to Iraqis. (Photo by Reuters)